The Pittsburgh Pirates made a bullpen switch Saturday afternoon, sending righty Carmen Mlodzinski to the 15-day injured list and recalling fellow right-hander Osvaldo Bido from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Mlodzinski has right elbow soreness, but manager Derek Shelton said the issue is “very minor.”
Since making his MLB debut June 16, the 24-year-old Mlodzinski has emerged as one of the Pirates’ more dependable relievers, going 2-3 with a 2.28 ERA over 21 appearances.
Through 23 2/3 innings, Mlodzinski has struck out 21 and walked 13, with a WHIP of 1.27. Opponents were hitting just .198 against him.
Bido had been optioned to the Indians on Tuesday when the Pirates added Colin Selby and Thomas Hatch. Bido, 27, is 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA for the Pirates this year.
Called up from the Indians in mid-June, Bido made his MLB debut with the Pirates that same day against the Cubs.
Plugged into the injury-plagued rotation, Bido went on to start eight games for the Pirates between June 14 and Aug. 7. Two of his outings came out of the bullpen.
Most recently, in a start at home against Atlanta on Monday, Bido lasted four innings, allowing four runs (three earned).
Bido has pitched 37 innings this season, striking out 34 with 14 walks.
Shelton did not rule out the possibility of Bido rejoining the starting rotation at some point.
“I think we’re going to try to mix and match and give us the best matchups that we can, depending on what (Andre Jackson) gives us, too,” Shelton said.
